AUCKLAND,New Zealand, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- New Zealand-based Rank Group, a global packaging and auto parts business, has renewed its networking contract with AT&T* for a further three years.

Rank Group's global Chief Information Officer Pat O'Connell first established the relationship with AT&T in 2008 and has a vision to consolidate and standardise Rank Group's telecommunications services across its subsidiaries in all US locations.

In June 2011, Graham Packaging was acquired by Rank and had its own data network provided by a local service provider. AT&T's global solution provided the ability to integrate their network with the other Rank Group companies together with the flexibility to implement managed router services and reduce operational costs. The single platform and single contract for AT&T Virtual Private Network for all of the entities helps with managing expenses and improving efficiency for the Rank Group.

Through a series of strategic acquisitions, Rank Group has built up an international portfolio of leading companies across the food packaging, consumer goods, automotive aftermarket and building supplies sectors. This has created numerous challenges for the company as it seeks to consolidate these companies and to integrate the many varied networks into one that is provided with seamless support and a single point of contact for all technical and commercial matters.

Graham Packaging, based in the US, will be adding its extensive US domestic and international footprint to the well-established network of Rank sites globally. This consolidation has meant that Rank can benefit from its global buying status to achieve significant cost savings on the network, whilst reducing administration and management overheads.

In addition, AT&T is providing Rank with a mobility solution that delivers competitive mobile voice and data packages as well as individual packages for employees.

Quotes

"Rank Group has enjoyed a strong relationship with AT&T since 2008 and in particular they have played a crucial role in our emergence as a leading global packaging business. Our respective United States and New Zealand teams work very closely together, and we value AT&T's responsiveness and proactivity," said Pat O'Connell, Global Chief Information Officer of the Rank Group.

"We're delighted to be able to continue and build on our relationship with the Rank Group. As a global leader ourselves, we are able to bring our wealth of knowledge, access to significant resources and our world-class network infrastructure to ensure seamless and consistent communications support right across the Rank Group," said Fred Girouard, AT&T Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

About Rank GroupRank Group is a New Zealand-based private company which invests across a variety of industries and aims to build and grow leading global businesses, including Reynolds Group Holdings, one of the largest packaging companies in the world.

About AT&TAT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the largest 4G network in the United States, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands.

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